Articles by Andrew Harris, Ian Katz and Katherine Chiglinsky

Court Hears MetLife’s Challenge to ‘Too-Big-to-Fail’ Designation This Week

For MetLife Inc. Chief Executive Officer Steve Kandarian, the scariest risk is being classified as risky. MetLife lawyers go to court Wednesday seeking to overturn a too-big-to-fail designation in a lawsuit that could, if the insurer prevails, reduce the government’s …

MetLife CEO Raised Possibility of Breakup in 2014

MetLife Inc., looking to avoid tougher oversight, was examining options for a breakup or restructuring of the firm 14 months before announcing this year that it’s considering a sale, spinoff or public offering for part of the domestic retail business. …

UK’s Aviva to Buy Royal Bank of Canada Unit for North America Expansion

Aviva Plc, the U.K.’s second-biggest insurer by market value, agreed to buy a home and auto insurer from Royal Bank of Canada for C$582 million ($402 million) to expand in North America. The purchase will increase Aviva’s policy sales in …

MetLife Spinoff Plan Could Add to Pressure on AIG to Split

After General Electric Co. began selling finance operations to exit too-big-to-fail status, American International Group Inc. Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock said it wasn’t clear that escaping the government risk tag would offer significant benefits to his company. Then in …

Third Point Re’s Stock Falls Below Level of 2013 IPO on Faltering Investments

Third Point Reinsurance Ltd., which counts on hedge fund manager Dan Loeb to oversee its portfolio, fell below the price of its 2013 initial public offering after investments faltered. The reinsurer tumbled 2.3 percent to $12.49 at 4:04 p.m. in …

Towers Watson and Willis Shareholders Approve $8.9 Billion Merger Deal

Towers Watson & Co. won approval from its shareholders for an $8.9 billion merger with insurance broker Willis Group Holdings Plc, overcoming opposition from proxy advisers. Willis shareholders also supported the combination, according to a joint statement from the companies …

Liberty Mutual Posts $427 Million Q3 Loss on Venezuela Operations, Energy

Liberty Mutual Holding Co., the second- largest U.S. property-casualty insurer, posted its worst loss in at least a decade on costs tied to scaling back operations in Venezuela and the declining value of some energy-related investments. The loss of $427 …

Towers Watson Shareholders ‘Should Reject’ New Willis Deal, Says Proxy Adviser

Towers Watson & Co. shareholders should vote against an $8.9 billion merger with Willis Group Holdings Plc even after the insurance broker increased the offer amid a backlash from investors, proxy adviser Glass Lewis & Co. said in a report. …

XL to Sell $22B of Life Policies to RGA, as CEO McGavick Narrows Focus on P&C

XL Group Plc agreed to sell about 290,000 life insurance policies at a loss to Reinsurance Group of America Inc. as Chief Executive Officer Mike McGavick narrows his company’s focus to property & casualty coverage after buying Catlin Group Ltd. …

Activist Investor Icahn Ups Pressure on AIG CEO Hancock

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn said he may seek to shake up leadership at American International Group Inc. after Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock rebuffed his plan to split the insurer into three companies. Icahn will push for a measure that …